Publications

Management Plan

2012-2017

Studies were commissioned by the SBR in 2010 in preparation for the 2012-2017 Management Plan. The findings and recommendations of these studies played a major role in developing the vision and objectives of the management plan.Download Now

Restoration Plan

The Mediterranean environment is characterized by hot dry summers and cool to cold wet winters and faces recurrent extreme events, such as drought and heat weaves. Throughout the millennia Mediterranean ecosystems and their inhabitants developed adaptation strategies to cope with water scarcity and environmental risks.Download Now

Thermal Biomass for Lebanon

Mediterranean Mosaics:strengthening the resilience of Mediterranean landscape to socio-economic and climate change
The ‘Thermal Biomass for Lebanon’ project aims to develop new methods to improve the use of local raw materials in a sustainable way, with a focus on climate change mitigation and adaptationDownload Now

The Economic Value

The natural environment provides the foundations of our society and our economy. It not only makes life possible on Earth but it makes it worth living.
This is the first ecosystem services evaluation conducted in Lebanon, under the leadership of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve.Download Now

Annual Report 2010-2012

Ecotourism Strategy

The Shouf Biosphere Reserve (SBR) was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2005. It includes: the Al- Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve (established in 1996), the Ammiq Wetland Protected Area, and twenty four (24) villages surrounding the biosphere from the eastern and western sides of the Barouk and Niha mountains.Download Now

Marketing & Business Plan for Rural Products

ACS launched its Rural Development Program in 1999, to support local communities by providing training and marketing outlets for their products. However, the program did not generate a lot of revenues, primarily because it developed and expanded spontaneously over the years. It was also hampered by the volatile political and security situation in Lebanon, which negatively impacted the ecotourism sector in Lebanon and the Reserve. In view of the current situation, ACS selected ECODIT to conduct a marketing and business plan for its rural products in order to improve the program and increase revenues to ACS and the local comunity.Download Now

Biodiversity booklet

The aim of this Booklet is to acquaint people in general, especially nature lovers and experts on the common species ( Plants, Trees, Birds, Reptiles, Mammals and Butterflies ) that exist in Al-Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve – Mount Lebanon at altitude ranges between 1000m and 2000m above sea level. It contains about 160 Colored pictures and paints in addition to detailed information of each species.Download Now

Liste des plantes de la réserve de biosphère du Chouf

Happy Bird Day

“The Happy Bird Day” is a campaign initiated by “Jabalna” Association, in co-ordination with the Ministry of Environment to describe the birds of Lebanon and their importance to biodiversity and the environment. This campaign aims to safeguard Lebanese birds and provide information for future generations. “Jabalna” Association’s objective is to raise awareness and promote environmental topics. Its role is to guide and educate the general public on conservation and environmental preservation issues.Download Now

Trail of the Barouk River Valley

This booklet is a brief introduction to the rich natural and cultural attractions of the villages of the Higher Chouf as well as to the recreational activities available, in particular the hiking trails. The Federation of Municipalities of the Higher Chouf (F.M.H.C.) welcomes you in our region and wishes you a memorable visit.Download Now

Niha Eco-tourism Map

The word Niha means quiet and peaceful in Syriac. The village of Niha is located on the slopes of Mount Niha (Jabal Niha) on the western slope of Mount Lebanon. The altitude varies between 1050 meters at the center of the village up to 1850 meter on the peaks of Mount Niha. The area of the village is 22000 hectares equivalent to 2% of the total area of Lebanon. Niha is located 65 km from Beirut, is located between three departments (Mouhafazat): Mount Lebanon, Bekaa, and South. This village was occupied since the Romans, the Crusaders, Mameluks, Ottomans and prospered under the Lebanese Maan emirs. Area is rich in tombs and a cave fortress. Niha is also rich in water and water sources.Download Now

Brochure – Shouf Biosphere Reserve

Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve was declared in 1996
The largest nature reserve in Lebanon
A biosphere reserve (5% of Lebanon territory)
Southern limit of cedrus libani
An important bird area (IBA)Download Now

Brochure – handicrafts

The Shouf Biosphere Reserve (SBR) handicraft program was initiated in 2014 with the support of CEPF through a project titled “Enhancing Sustainable Livelihood and Promoting Community Management of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve”Download Now

Rural Development flyer

Al Shouf cedar society launched its Rural Development Program in 1999, to support local communities by providing training and marketing outlets for their products.
Some of these products are (jams, honey, syrups, distilled water and other)Download Now

Preliminary Study of Wild Mushrooms in the Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve

The term “mushroom” means any fungus which produces a fleshy fruiting body. Instead of seeds, reproduction in fungi is accomplished by means of microscopic reproductive units called spores. In this study the word mushroom will denote all larger fungi, or macromycetes. Most of the mushroom species are members of the class Basidiomycetes and a few are members of the Ascomycetes, but the two classes are closely related to each other.Download Now

Tawlet AMMIQ – ECO-RESTAURANT for the Biosphere

ACS launched its Rural Development Program in 1999, to support local communities by providing training and marketing outlets for their products. However, the program did not generate a lot of revenues, primarily because it developed and expanded spontaneously over the years. It was also hampered by the volatile political and security situation in Lebanon, which negatively impacted the ecotourism sector in Lebanon and the Reserve. In view of the current situation, ACS selected ECODIT to conduct a marketing and business plan for its rural products in order to improve the program and increase revenues to ACS and the local comunity.

Barouk-Fraidiss Patriotic Trail – The village of the Cedars, the Water Source and the National Anthem

The Barouk – Fraidiss village is one of the most famous villages of the Shouf region for more than a reason.
Nested on the slopes of Mount Lebanon between 1000 and 1900 meters, it is home to one of the largest cedar forests in Lebanon. The Barouk water source, located in the village, is renowned for its abundant water and its purity.
On the historical and cultural sides, the village is the birth place of the Honorable Cheikh Abou Hassan Aref Halawi, a historically prominent religious figure, and the hometown of the great poet Rachid Nakhli, author of the Lebanese national anthem.Download Now

Risk Prevention and Management Support to the Reserve

The Italian Cooperation project “Risk Prevention and Management Support to Al- Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve in Lebanon” began in 2009 and was based on the urgent need to develop a stronger capacity in preventing and fighting forest fires in Lebanon. From 2005 to 2008 forest fires burned almost 30% of Lebanon’s forests despite the efforts of both public and private sectors. The Al-Shouf Cedar Reserve needed a more professional approach to minimize the risk from forest fires.Download Now